Senate Votes Down Minimum Wage HikeThe Republican-led Senate turns down two separate proposals to raise the minimum wage -- which has been $5.15 per hour since 1996. The rival measures were both amendments to a business-backed bill that makes it harder to erase debts through bankruptcy.

The Republican-led Senate turns down two separate proposals to raise the minimum wage — which has been $5.15 per hour since 1996. The rival measures were both amendments to a business-backed bill that makes it harder to erase debts through bankruptcy.